Thursday, May 24, 2007

24 - SOLO

No I'm not doing it....watching the movie was sweet enough for me.....

I highly recommend any mountain biker with any sort of passion for the sport go out and by this movie....it'll motivare you for sure.

There were some scenes from the 24-9 race in Wausau that has me thinking about this years race...

In other news....

Wings Lost...no more hockey, no more mullett? I know it was a weak attempt, but you know who is giving me a hard time....

My shoulder is wasted from crashing in Geneva....I though for sure now it would be better, but it only seems worse....

Secret training over the hoilday weekend followed by a week of vacation....Eagle River here I come....until next time

may the schwartz be with you

Monday, May 21, 2007

Back To School

Well the big party weekend is over....Andrea is officially a Graduate Nurse w/ a BSNRN....unfortunately she is already back in the classroom. What a drag to graduate and then a day later be forced in the classroom for 40 hours of Mandatory NCLEX review...I guess one more test...the state boards..then its official.
























I also went back to school this weekend....it was a sharp learning curve too. WORS at Lake Geneva w/ Mom & Dad in attendance...I was feeling good, maybe a little tired from the graduation party, but ready to rock. I heard good things about the course and was pretty pumped. Lap 1 was fast...I was behing AJ in the first singletrack and a little gap opened to the top 3 of Jesse, Tristan, & Mike....I rode hard to close the gap and was feeling pretty good, Marko was chasing me but couldn't quite get my wheel. By the end of lap 1 five of us rode through and started the climb back on to the course. Tristan was riding like a girl so I took charge on the climb, a few minutes later, I was riding like a 5th grader and couldn't stay on two wheels. I crashed and Jesse and Tristan were gone. Mike was just in sight and I managaed to catch Marko's wheel. Then it got slippery, I crashed again, then it got slipperier.



























I composed, started chasing caught Marko saw Mike in the woods with a flat, but I knew Tristan and Jesse were gone. I think I crashed in front of Marko about 17 times....I think he crashed in front of me 13 times....it was pretty rad for a while...I should have let out some air pressure, but didn't want to flat on the rock garden. Finished up 4th on the day. Great day for Trek / Fisher on the podium! The day after and I feel like I got my ass kicked in a hockey fight from hitting the ground too many times...

Wings lost a heart breaker...do or die tomorrow night in Anaheim, series is 3-2 Ducks

Go WINGS!!!

back to work now....

Thursday, May 17, 2007

go time

vo2 intervals, work, parents in town, el camino, red wings, work, ride, dinner, graduation sleep, ride, clean bikes, party, race, relax

a lot going on in the next couple of days....

GO WINGS

Monday, May 14, 2007

My Garage

It's like I'm a poster child for Trek & Crank Bros......wait a minute

So here is the status of the garage / basement of a one time pro / really fast local guy with Trek 2 hours drive away




The Road Bike: 6.5 SSL w/ Crank Bros Ti Quattro & Select Wheels w/ Hardcase Tires * 105 Cassette





























The Race X Lite Wheelset ready for the road...



























Andrea's Madone 5.2 WSD w/ Crank Bros Quattro

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The Fastest Bike Ever new Fuel 9.9 w/ 4 ti egg beaters...freshly cleaned after the WORS "W"

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Andrea's Fuel 98 w/ Crank Bros Candy Pedals

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The Secret Weapon (Lightest Mountain Bike I have ever Raced) Elite 9.9 w/ Crank Bros 4 Ti Egg Beaters .... in the works....



















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But w/ this fork or that fork....


































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The 9.9 Race X Lite Wheelset ready for the mud !























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The XO transformed to a winter bike.....w/ Select wheels 105 Cassette 2Ti Egg Beaters Hardcase Tires w/ close to 7000 miles on them...

























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The X Lite Wheelset waiting for more cross....





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The Merlin!!!! Old School... This thing has been through it all....4 versions of XTR, Sport Class Fun Promotions Races, NORBAS, WORLD CUPS, Wors, and Breakfast Rides galore....It has seen the 24 speed era, 27 speed era, was once a single speed, and is now set up as a 1* 9 with slicks...the slicks double as Andrea's Fuel's Road Wheels


































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And what kind of garage would it be if there wasn't a 700C Disc Wheelset for cruising the MTB'S





























Friday, May 11, 2007

Big Time

You know you made it big time when you are on the Fisher Website and your riding a Trek. At least big time in my little world of blogs and bike racing

No intervals this weekend....going back to quantity to get ready for SBF.

Wings start in One Hour...I'm at the shop so I'll have to watch the first 2 periods here....

GO WINGS

Wednesday, May 09, 2007

Best Ever???

I would have to say that Detroit is THE BEST sports town in the country?

Pistons, Tigers, Red Wings, & Lions.....

I know the Lions aren't the best but if they keep drafting wide receivers maybe one of the will catch a few TD passes....

Tigers in the World Series last fall w/ Kenny Rogers, now Gary Sheffield...Wings & Pistons are currently killing it in their respective playoff series....can anyone think of a better town for sports?

I know the Sheboygan A's are pretty tough but c'mon

More sweet training this week, inervals, rain, hail, more inervals!!!! Lovin' It...

Monday, May 07, 2007

Polka Time

I knew it was going to be a good day as we were approaching Iola and I switched the radio station....over the airways came the polka version of the Partridge Family's 'I Think I Love You'


Yah....stranger things have motivated me in the past but this time it was a family band from the 70's.


All the big dogs from Wisconsin showed up for the first Wors race of the year, except for Sova who claims to have a girlfriend???
























A solid warm up, a solid start, and a perfectly tuned Trek Fuel 9.9 had me on my way to the first victory of the Wors season. The new Fuel's are amazing...the rear suspension is so active when it needs to be yet rigid enough to climb like a champ....the lockout is even more impressive and turns the plush fuel suspensin in to a 22 lbs rigid bike with the flip of a switch.


I followed AJ and Mike up the start climb and after a few lead changes on the first couple of climbs I took the lead and never looked back. For a while I could feel the presence of Jesse on the SS and was impressed with his effort. Our perceived exertion was 2X that of the Rockford race, but the different styles of riding the full suspension vs the ss continually had him bridging small gaps and soon I was riding solo.
































I'm not sure if it was the power of the Blades, the new Trek, or the Partridge Family, but more likely than not it was the help from www.momentumendurance.com The hard work paid off...

I would like to thank Travis for all his help. Even if you think you are really fast a coach can help you...an outsiders perspective and new found motivation can do you wonders on the bike.

Here is my GPS from the race...consistent lap times and good HR numbers...what more could I ask for...



http://trail.motionbased.com/trail/activity/2669212


























It felt good to defend the #1 plate and I would like to thank a few folks for their support....

PCW, Trek, Hyundai, Crank Bros, Oakley, Bike N Ski, Rusty's Photos, the WORS crew

and of course Mom, Dad, Andrea & Rosco!!!


















































ps - WINGS @ The Shark Tank...Game 6 tonight...I think I saw Simonson @ the JLA when watching the WINGS destroy the Sharks on Saturday...he had a beer in his hand and stood up every time the camera panned the ice...could it be? Go WINGS

Friday, May 04, 2007

Whats Around The Next Corner

Well the race season is officially upon us in WISCO...

This weekend kicks off the WORS series and it is looking like it will be a battle from race #1 all the way to the last race in Sheboygan.

We'll see what happens soon enough..

Also just around the corner is Andrea's graduation from nursing school at Marion College. We have been in the same routine for the last 4 years....we'll see what changes lie ahead once "reality" starts. Maybe a relocation, maybe back to school for me, maybe full time bike racer now that I have a sugar mama!!!

After last weekends race I am feeling pretty good.

Here is a short recap of the Rock Cut race...

Rolled up in fashion with 4 trek bikes on the roof. Was pretty happy to see there was going to be some competition at the race when I saw the Trek Van and the Lalonde bros. You never know what you will get at a smaller local race. The start was hard for me, being the first real effort of the season racing against others...soon I settled in and was of the front in a group of 3. Half way through the first lap Marko flatted. I let Jesse pull the remainder of the 1st lap and then took over the work load for the second lap. At one point I was close to dropping Jesse, but he got a little breather when we approached an injured rider and had to slow down. Soon after that I hit my head on a tree really hard....broke my helmet....gotta keep my head up and watch for those low branches...Jesse said it looked like whiplash. On the last climb of the 2nd lap I pushed the pace and was able to slowly pull away from Jesse. The last lap I felt really strong to roll in for the victory at a time of 2:00. A long race for the first one of the year and it was pretty warm out. Happy ride home to Sheboygan.

After 2 awesome workouts this week I should be primed for Iola...

ps...bloggin is almost like a full time job...lack of updates due to no internet at home and being plenty busy at work...sorry